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W. E. H'OPPER in-S. MILSTED. GAS METER msnm.

No. 586,086'. Patented July 6. 1897.

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W. H. HOPPBR 8v S. MILSIED. GAS METER cAsING.

No. 586,086. f Patented July 6, '1897.

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Nrrn Sterns WILLIAM II. IIOPPER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ANDSTEPHEN MILSTED, OF HAMMONTON, NEW JERSEY.

GAS-METER CASING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,086, dated July 6,1897.

Application filed September 28, 1896. Serial No. 607,222. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. I-IOPPER, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,and STEPHEN MILSTED, of Hammonton, Atlantic county,

New Jersey, citizens of the United States, have invented certainImprovements in Gas- Meter Casings, of which the following is aspecification.

The main object of our invention is to simplify and cheapen theconstruction of the casing of a gas-meter, an object which we attain bylessening the number of component parts in said casing and theconsequent number of' solder-joints necessary to secure these partstogether.

A further object is to stiften and strengthen the structure, whichobject is attained by a special construction of the flanges, whereby theparts are united.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of ourimproved gas-meter casing, showing thefront, one of the gallery-plates,and the top detached from the body portion. Fig. 2 is a perspective viewof the central vertical partition-plate of the meter. Fig. 3 is aperspective View of the horizontal partition plate or table whichseparates the measuring-chamber of the meter from the chamber containingthe registering apparatus and valve mechanism. Fig. 4 is a verticalsection of part of the metercasing, and Fig. 5 is a sectional plan viewof part of the same. Y

In ordinary gas-meters the front andback, the sides, the bottom, thetop, and the partition and gallery plates are all composed of sheetmetal and are separated from each other. Hence a great number ofsolder-joints are necessary in securing these parts together, the casingis weakened thereby, the cost of making the casing is heavy, and therisk of leakage due to defective joints is in direct proportion to thenumber of joints in the casing. In carrying out our invention,

therefore, we make the bottom A and sides B B of the casing from onepiece of sheet metal bent into proper shape, so that no joints arenecessary at the junction of the bottom and sides of the casing, theparts A B B being secured in proper position in respect to each other byconnection with the central vertical partition-plate D and horizontalpartition plate or table F, which serves to separate themeasuring-chamber of the meter from the upper chamber, containing theregistering devices and valve-operating mechanism.

The vertical partition-plateD is of rectangular form and has around eachof its four sides a projecting iiange a, the side and bottom flangesbeing secured, respectively, to the side and bottom portions of thecasing and the top flange being secured to the semitubular channel-plateG, the upper edges of which are secured to the under side of thehorizontal partition plate or table F, so as to form immediately beneaththe latter a central conduit, such is usually required in gas-meters.

The horizontal partition plate or table F has end fianges b secured tothe sides of the casing, and said table also has side fianges d, similarto the flanges f, which project inwardly from the edges of the bottomand side portions A B B of the casing, these flanges d and f completelysurrounding the measurin g-ch amber of the meter and serving for theattachment of the front and back plates I, which complete the inclsureof said measuring-chamber.

The iianges d and f are preferably grooved or V-shaped in cross-sectionand the front and back plates Ihave edge iianges t', adapted to enterthe grooved flanges d and f, to which they are secured by soldering orbrazing, the V form of the flanges serving to stiften the same and hencematerially increasing the strength ofthe structure.

The side portions B B of the casing are continued upwardly beyond thehorizontal partition plate or table F and have edge ilanges m,preferably grooved or V-shaped for the reception of flanges n at theends of' the gallery-plates J, which also have bottom flanges n, adaptedto the grooved flange d of the table F, the flanges n being secured tothe V-shaped flanges d and m by soldering or brazing.

The sides B of the casing and the galleryplates J have at the topinturned horizontal flanges s, to which are secured the top K of themeter.

IOO

In constructing a meter-casing in accordance with our invention not onlyare the assembling and fitting of the parts facilitated, but thestrength and security of the casing are increased, the number ofsoldered joints to be formed is decreased, and the expense ofconstructing the casing is correspondingly diminished, less skill beingrequired in the operation than is demanded in making an ordinary casing,thereby effecting an additional saving in cost.

Having thus described our invention7 we claim and desire to secure byLetters Patentl. A meter-casing consisting of a single strip of sheetmetal bent to form the bottom and sides of the casing, ahorizontalpartition plate or table secured to said sides of the casing, grooved orV-shaped flanges extending inwardly from the edges of the bottom, sidesand table, and front and back plates having anges secured to saidgrooved or V- shaped iianges on the body ofthe casing, substantially asspecified.

2. A meter-casing consisting of a single strip of sheet metal bent toform the bottom and sides of the casing, a horizontal partition plate ortable secured to said sides of the casing below the top of the same,grooved or V-shaped ianges extending inwardly from the edges of thebottom and sides of the casing, and front, back and gallery plateshaving flanges secured in said grooved or V- shaped flanges on the bodyof the casing, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this speciication inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

NVM. H. HOPPER. STEPHEN MILSTED. vWitnesses:

.I os. H. KLEIN, F. E. BECHTOLD.

